Saturday, June 28, 2014 • Vol. 16--No. 344 • 26 of 30

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back the trust of veterans."
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In letter to ABC News, Elliot Rodger's dad says it's his duty to help prevent future killings

• LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The father of the young man who killed six people and injured 13 others near the University of California, Santa Barbara, last month says it's his "duty" to help prevent future mass killings.
• In a letter provided to ABC News on Friday, Peter Rodger wrote that he wants to help people recognize warning signs of mental illness within families.
• He said his son, Elliot, hid his sickness from his parents, mental health professionals and law enforcement. In hindsight, the father said, he is beginning to understand there are traits, or "markers," that family members can look out for in loved ones.
• "My duty now is to do as much as I can to try and stop this from happening again," the elder Rodger wrote. "It will be a long journey involving the personal choices of individuals and families, public discussions, mental health reforms, a change in the culture -- you name it. My sincere hope is that I can help by telling my story."
• He said he has created a website -- AskForHelp.org -- with resources on mental illness and a place to share stories.
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Minority vote takes new dimension after black support in Mississippi race helps GOP incumbent

• WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Thad Cochran's GOP primary victory, thanks in part to black Mississippians who turned out to vote for him, exemplifies a new math that politicians of all persuasions may be forced to learn as this country's voting population slowly changes complexion.
• Cochran's campaign courted black voters, perceiving their unhappiness with his tea party-supported opponent, Chris McDaniel, and his anti-government rhetoric and scathing criticisms of President Barack Obama. Blacks responded by turning out to help give Cochran an almost 7,000-vote win. The use of Mississippi's open primary to further their agenda showed political maturity by black voters and debunked a longstanding belief that they obediently vote Democratic and not according to their own interests.

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